Bedrail element and method of manufacture



Oct. 31, 1967 K. H. GUTNER 3,

BEDRAIL ELEMENT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE F'iled Nov. 27, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet l 6 K. H. GUTNER 3,349,414

BEDRAIL ELEMENT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Filed Nov. 27, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 2 25 ii! 26 IIIIIIIIII United States Patent 3,349,414BEDRAIL ELEMENT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Kenneth H. Gutner, 3285 Date,Highland Park, II]. 60035 Filed Nov. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 240,325 11Claims. (Cl. 5-296) This invention relates to a bedrail element andmethod of manufacture, and, more particularly, to a connectiontypefitting of an adjustable nature employed in conjunction with a boxspring, or the like.

This invention is a continuationinpart of my copending application, Ser.No. 146,917, filed Oct. 23, 1961, now abandoned.

conventionally, box springs, mattresses, etc., are supported on woodenslats or boards which extend between angle-shaped side rails connectingthe head and footboards of the bed. The use of such supports presents anumber of problems which extend throughout all the activities in whichthe bed is involved: manufacture, transportation, installation, andultimate use. The special slats occupy considerable space duringshipment and storage; increase the cost by virtue of handling, with thepossibility of damage; wear out in use; offer the possibility of failureby virtue of shifting; interfere with cleaning operations; and collectdust.

In the past, a number of expedients have been advanced for eliminatingthe slats, relying upon the horizontal leg of the bedrail angle to carrythe box spring or mattress. These expedients necessarily required anadjustable feature to accommodate variations in spring or mattress size.The means for providing the adjustable feature in the past has provedunacceptable because of complexity and unreliability. Both of thesedrawbacks are overcome in the instant invention, and the provision of abedrail connector of the adjustable type which overcomes these drawbacksconstitutes an important object of the invention.

' It is another object of the invention to provide a unique connectivefitting to be interposed between a bedrail and the bed end board, i.e.,head or footboard, along with a novel method of manufacture and assemblywhich is simple, yet rugged in construction. Here, it should beappreciated that a complex structure often defeats its intended purposebecause of the difficulty of proper adjustment, and this drawback inparticular is avoided in the inventive construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may be seen in the detailsof construction, manufacture and operation set down in the followingspecification.

The invention, in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment, is shownin the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a fragmentaryelevational view, partially in section, of a bed equipped with theinventive construction;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the arrangement of 3,349,414 PatentedOct. 31, 1967 intermediate stage and wherein the final stage operationsare designated in dotted line; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 8.

In the illustration given, the numeral 10 designates generally a bed,including the usual headboard 11, footboard (not shown), and side rails12 and 13 (compare FIGS. 1 and 2). Each side rail, at each end thereof,is equipped with a bracket generally designated '14 carrying a plategenerally designated 15. The plate 15 extends into the usual halfmoon-shaped (as by a circular saw) bed leg slot 16 provided in each bedleg 17. In the past, the side rails 12 and 13 have been equipped withend hooks generally similar to those shown at 18 and 19 on the plate 15,and the bed rail hooks themselves have been inserted into the slot 16for engagement with pins 20 and 21. However, these hooks were notadjustable.

The bracket 14 is seen to be secured to the bed rail 13 (as in FIG. 3)by means of rivets 22. The bracket 14 has a pair of legs 23 and 24, theleg 23 carrying the abovementioned rivets 22, while the other leg is cutout as at 25 to provide a generally rectangular opening. The opening isequipped with offset teeth 26 defining slots 26 (see FIG. 9) along thetop and bottom edges, and the teeth 26 are spaced apart by the slots 26and are selectively engageable with recesses or notches 27 provided inthe upper and lower edges of the plate 18. The rectangular cutout 25(see FIG. 5) is extended partway along the width of the leg 23 toprovide means for insertion of the plate into the cutout 25.

In the operation of the connector made up of brackets 14 and plate 15,the plate 15 is inserted in the fashion depicted in FIG. 4, after whichit is rotated to the dotted line position 15 seen in FIG. 5. In otherwords, the plate is initially positioned parallel to the leg 24, andafter the same has been inserted into the opening or cutout 25, isrotated 90 so as to be parallel with the leg 23. In FIG. 4, the plate 15is about to be swung to the dotted line position 15 of FIG. 5.Thereafter, the leg 23 along the edge 25a of the cutout 25 is deformedto provide projections 28. These serve to preclude removal of the plate15.

When it is intended to install the bedrail 13 equipped with the brackets14 and plate 15 in a bed 10, the plate 15 is positioned in engagementwith the first tooth or nick 26a, i.e., the position nearest the leg 23.There- 7 after, the plate 15 is moved downwardly within the slot 16 to aposition of engagement with the pins 20 and 21.

flanges 12b and FIG. 1 such as would be seen along the sight line 2-2applied to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, in fragmentary form, of the inventiveconstruction;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view showing the hook plate in the processof being inserted into the bracket;

FIG. 5 is a sectional View such as would be seen along the sight line5-5 applied to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but of the inventive construction incompleted form;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view, in fragmentary form, of a metal strip inthe process of being formed into a blank to develop the bracket portionof the inventive construction; FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the bracketblank in an This is performed relative to both side rails insofar as'both the head and footboards of the bed are concerned, and when thearrangement seen generally in FIG. 2 is achieved, the distance betweenthe bedrail upstanding 13b is measured. The measurement for a standardbox spring for a double bed is ordinarily 52 /2", while for a single bedthe measurement is 37 /2". In some cases, the spacing of the slots 16 inthe bed end boards may vary, so that adjustment of the plates 15 isrequired. Thereafter, each rail 12 and 13 is moved to position theplates 15 associated therewith in the correct tooth position, and eachbracket 14 is tapped to set the books 18 and 19 in snug engagement withthe pins 20 and 21.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there is no possibility of lossor detachment of the plates 15 from the brackets 14. Further, the plates15 slide readily over the teeth 26 and slots 26' until cinched in placeagainst the pins 20 and 21. The cinching develops a slight pressurebetween the leg 24 and the confronting face of the bed leg 11 so as toeffectively immobilize the plate 15 within the cutout 25.

Each plate 15 is equipped with openings 29 in the hooks 18 and 19 whichserve to lock the two bedrails 12 and 13 together during shipment. Forthis purpose, a block of wood may be installed between the plates 15 ofthe two bedrails 12 and 13 and nails inserted through the openings 29.

The bracket 14 is characterized by rounded corners so as to preclude anypossible injury to the person installing or using the invention. The leg23 additionally is equipped with a coplanar, integral projection as at30 which extends over the area of stress associated with the rivets 22to strengthen the connection between the brackets 14 and the associatedbedrail 12 or 13, as the case may be.

In the production of the invention connection made up of the bracket 14and plate 15, the first stage of manufacture is depicted in FIG. 7,where a continuous strip of 11 gauge steel 31 is advanced to a punchingstation. The die (not shown) may be of conventional construction and isequipped with a punch organized to develop a blank 32 which isessentially the shape of the bracket 14 when the latter is still inplanar form. As seen in FIG. 7, the projection 30 is contiguous to thenext formed blank 32'.

The blank 32 is seen to be equipped with the cutout 25 and openings 22afor the receipt of rivets 22. The blank also has transversely-extendingribs as at 33 and rounded corners as at 34. The projection 30 not onlyprovides an advantageous rigidification for the portion of the blank 32equipped with the openings 22a, but also minimizes the amount ofthrow-away material as at 35 and 36, the latter being necessary toprovide the rounded corners 34 at the four corners of the blank 32 aswell as the usual /s" to A spacing characteristic of conventionalpunching of side-by-side elements. Thus, the subsequent blank to bedeveloped from the strip 31 is indicated in dotted line as at 32.

The opening 25 is seen to be closer to the edge 24a than it is to theedge 23a of the blank 32, and the subsequent forming operation indicatedin FIG. 8 develops the FIG. 3 configuration by folding the blank 32along a line 37 parallel to the edges 23a and 24a and lying within theopening 25. The line 37 is seen to be midway between the edges 23a and24a (see FIG. 8), with the line 37 being offset from the longitudinalcenter line of the opening 25.

Still referring to FIG. 8, the blank 32 is seen to be ready for foldingalong the line 37 so as to develop an opening 27a in the leg 23 ofsufficient size to permit the insertion of the plate 15. The width of27a is slightly greater than the width of the plate 15, about A for a%2" thick plate. Simultaneously with the folding of the blank 32 alongthe line 37, the teeth 26 are coined into the upper and lower sides oredges of the opening 25, the resultant structure being depicted indotted line in FIG. 9.

The plate 15, as pointed out above, is equipped with hooks 18 and 19which are defined in part by slots 38 and 39 (see FIG. 3). During theinstallation operation, each plate can be tapped lightly along the topsurface as at 15a, which cinches the plate 15 in place within the slot16. Here, it will be appreciated that the pins and 21 associated witheach slot 16 are not identically spaced from the inner surface 11a ofthe leg 11 (see FIG. 2). The variation usually is within the range of0.225" to 0.45 from the surface 11a. It is in this environment that thebooks 18 and 19 engage the pins 20 and 21. This frictional engagement isfacilitated through the provision of parallel side edges as at 38a and39a in the slots 38 and 39 (see FIG. 3). Also, the slot 38 is slightlydownwardly flared-the width of the slot at the top being slightlygreater than one inch while at the mouth of the slot 38 the width isabout The slot 39 has side walls that are more approaching inparallelism than the walls of the slot 38, the width of the slot 39being about In the fabrication of the plate 15, there is also provided apunching operation utilizing a continuous strip. To develop the roundededge (best seen at 15a in FIG. 3) and yet minimize waste material, Iprovide a shoulder as at 1511 defining a square corner so that thesubsequent plate from the strip can be punched without leaving theaforementioned /sfii spacing.

The next stage of manufacture contemplates inserting the plate 15 in thefashion seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, after which the lugs or projections 28(FIGS. 3 and 6) are developed as by staking. Subsequently, in anoperation not depicted, the bracekt 14 (equipped with the plate 15) isriveted to the bedrail 12 or 13, as the case may be.

With the inventive construction, it is now possible to position theplate 15 in contact with the leg 23 without danger of detachment so asto achieve a minimum spacing between the bedrail upstanding legs 12b and13b. This permits the use of only three adjusting notches 26, yetpermits an adjustment of over two inches to accommodate a variation inthe distance between bed slots 16 of from about 53 to 55 /2.

In one embodiment of the invention, the bracket 14 has a height of about4%", with each of the legs 23 and 24 being about 1 /8" in width. Theheight of the cutout portion 25 is about 3", and the cutout portion 25in leg 24 extends from the inside wall of the leg 23 to about A of theend of leg 24. Each notch 26 is approximately square in cross section,measuring about A5 to accommodate the plate 15. It will also be notedthat the bracket 14 is symmetrical about a horizontal center line sothat there is no Left or Right form-further minimizing the productionprocedure.

While, in the foregoing specification, an embodiment of the inventionhas been described in considerable detail for the purpose ofexplanation, many variations in the details herein given may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. A support for a box spring, or the like, wherein the box spring issupported on angle-shaped side rails extending between head andfootboards, said boards having pinequipped slots adapted to normallyreceive the side rail hooks, comprising, in combination:

a hook-equipped plate adapted to be received in one of said board slots,said plate having a generally rectangular outline providing two opposingedges arranged in parallel relation, a generally rectangular notch ineach of said edges, said plate being equipped with hook-like projectionsadjacent each notch,

an angle bracket providing a pair of legs, one of said legs beingequipped with means for securing said bracket to a bedrail, said bracketbeing equipped with a generally rectangular cutout lying substantiallyin the other angle leg, said cutout having a dimension between a pair ofopposite sides such as to receive said plate with the notches of saidplate engaging the opposite sides of said cutout, said cutout, alongsaid opposite sides, being equipped with offset teeth, each of saidteeth having a width slightly greater than the thickness of said plate,said cutout having a third side lying within said one angle leg, and

means on said third side for preventing detachment of said plate fromsaid bracket.

2. A support for a box spring, or the like, wherein the box spring issupported on angle-shaped, hookequipped side rails extending betweenhead and footboards, said boards having pin-equipped slots adapted tonormally receive the side rail hooks, comprising, in combination:

a hook-equipped plate adapted to be received in one of said board slots,said plate having a generally rectangular outline providing two opposingedges arranged in parallel relation, a generally rectangular notch ineach of said edges, said plate being equipped with hook-like projectionsadjacent each notch, and

an L-shaped bracket having a first leg equipped with means for securingsaid bracket to a side rail, said bracket having a second leg equippedwith a generally rectangular cutout, said cutout extending slightly intosaid first leg to provide an entry slot for said plate and having adimension between a pair of opposite sides such as to receive said platewith the notches of said plate engaging the opposite sides of saidcutout, said cutout, along said opposite sides, being equipped withofiset teeth, each of said teeth having a width slightly greater thanthe thickness of said plate.

3. A bedrail support, comprising:

an angle having a flat first leg adapted to be secured to a bedrail anda flat second leg adapted to be secured to a bed end board, said anglehaving rounded corners and a projection on said first leg in the planethereon, means adjacent said projection for securing said angle to abedrail,

said second leg having a generally rectangular opening therein, saidopening extending into said first leg to define upper and lower edgeslying in both legs and a side edge lying only in said first leg,

a hook-equipped plate undetachably mounted in said opening parallel tosaid first leg for movement parallel to said second leg,

means on said upper and lower edges and said plate for positioning saidplate, and

means on said side edge preventing the detachment of said plate fromsaid angle.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which said side edge means includes astaked lug extending into said opening.

5. A support for a box spring, or the like, wherein the box spring issupported on angle-shaped side rails extending between head andfootboards, said boards having pin-equipped slots adapted to normallyreceive the side rail hooks, comprising, in combination, a hook-equippedplate adapted to be received in one of said board slots, said platehaving a generally rectangular outline providing two opposing edgesarranged in parallel relation, a generally rectangular notch in each ofsaid edges, said plate being equipped with projections adjacent eachnotch, and a bracket equipped with a generally rectangular cut-out, saidcut-out having a dimension between a pair of opposite sides such as toreceive said plate with the notches of said plate engaging the oppositesides of said cut-out, said cut-out, along said opposite sides, beingequipped with teeth alternately offset in opposite directions, each ofsaid teeth having a width slightly greater than the thickness of saidplate.

6. A bed, comprising, in combination, a headboard, a footboard, each ofsaid boards equipped with depending legs, with each leg being equippedwith a vertical slot in the inner face thereof and a pair of pinspositioned in each slot in general vertical alignment, at hook-equippedplate mounted in each slot in frictional engagement with the pinsthereof, said plate, along its upper and lower edges, being equippedwith alternately offset, rectangularshaped notches, a bracketpositionably mounted on each plate and having a cut-out portion equippedwith offset teeth, said bracket being generally L-shaped, with a firstleg being equipped with said cut-out portion, said teeth being inengagement with the notches of said plate, said bracket having itssecond leg equipped with a rail-engaging means, and a pair of side railsextending between said head and footboards on opposite sides thereof andcoupled to the rail-engaging means on said second leg of each of saidbrackets.

7. A bed support, comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to abedrail and a hook-equipped elongated plate positionably, undetachablycoupled to said bracket and adapted to engage the hook pins of a bedendboard, said plate having a pair of longitudinally extending notchesand said bracket having cut-out means, said cutout means having twospaced-apart parallel rows of teeth for positionably engaging saidnotches, with said plate extending partway into said cut-out means, saidbracket being equipped with an integral part projecting into saidcut-out means to prevent removal of said plate.

8. A bed support, comprising an elongated bracket adapted to be securedto a bedrail on the elongated end and elongated plate positionablymounted in said bracket and adapted to be secured to a bed leg, saidplate being equipped with upwardly extending slots adapted to receivebed leg pins and a pair of spaced-apart, longitudinally-extendingnotches, said bracket being equipped with a generally rectangularcut-out portion positionably, undetachably carrying said plate, at leastone side of said cut-out portion being equipped with spaced-apart teethselectively engageable with a notch or" said plate, and integral meansin another side of said cut-out for preventing removal of said platefrom said cut-out while permitting lateral shifting of said plate.

9. A bed support, comprising an angle bracket having a first leg adaptedto be secured to a bed rail and a second leg adapted to be secured to abed endboard when said second leg is disposed in a generally verticalplane, said second leg when so disposed having a vertically-extending,generally rectangular opening therein, at least onehorizontally-extending side of said opening being equipped with aplurality of spaced-apart teeth, a generally rectangular hook platepositionably, undetachably mounted in said opening and extending in agenerally vertical plane normal to said second leg when said bracketsecond leg is disposed in a vertical plane, at least one horizontal edgesurface of said plate being equipped with a notch for 00- action withsaid tooth-equipped side for fixing the position of said plate relativeto said second leg, and an integral projection along one side of saidopening for preventing the removal of said plate from said bracket.

10. A bed support, comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to abedrail and a hook-equipped elongated plate positionably, undetachablycoupled to said bracket and adapted to engage the hook pins of a bedendboard, said plate having a pair of longitudinally extending notchesand said bracket having cut-out means and two spacedapart rows of teethfor positionably engaging said notches, with said plate extendingpartway into said cut-out means, said bracket being equipped with anintegral part projecting into said cut-out means to prevent removal ofsaid plate.

11. A bed support, comprising a bracket adapted to be secured to a bedrail and a hook-equipped elongated plate positionably, undetachablycoupled to said bracket and adapted to engage the hook pins of a bedendboard, said plate having a pair of longitudinallly-extending notchesand said bracket having cutout means and two spaced-apart rows of teethfor positionably engaging said notches, with said plate extendingpartway into said cutout means, said bed support being equipped with anintegral part constituting lock means to prevent removal of said platefrom said cutout means, said integral part being provided by stakingafter said plate has been inserted into said cutout means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,719,309 10/1955 Harris 5-2962,776,442 1/ 1957 Edelen 5-296 2,795,801 6/ 1957 Edelen 5296 2,942,2796/ 1960 Von Canon 5-296 3,05 8,211 10/1962 Axtell 29-509 3,081,5373/1963 Novy 29-509 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner. FRANK B. SHERRY,Examiner.

A. M. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner.

11. A BED SUPPORT, COMPRISING A BRACKET ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO A BED RAIL AND A HOOK-EQUIPPED ELONGATED PLATE POSITIONABLY, UNDETACHABLY COUPLED TO SAID BRACKET AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE HOOK PINS OF A BED ENDBOARD, SAID PLATE HAVING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY-EXTENDING NOTCHES AND SAID BRACKET HAVING CUTOUT MEANS AND TWO SPACED-APART ROWS OF TEETH FOR POSITIONABLY ENGAGING SAID NOTCHES, WITH SAID PLATE EXTENDING PARTWAY INTO SAID CUTOUT MEANS, SAID BED SUPPORT BEING EQUIPPED WITH AN INTEGRAL PART CONSTITUTING LOCK MEANS TO PREVENT REMOVAL OF SAID PLATE FROM SAID CUTOUT MEANS, SAID INTEGRAL PART BEING PROVIDED BY STAKING AFTER SAID PLATE HAS BEEN INSERTED INTO SAID CUTOUT MEANS. 